Device, method and graphical user interface for deleting an object in a user interface

ABSTRACT

The disclosure generally relates to the field of graphical user interfaces and particular it relates to a method of deleting a graphical user interface object, and to a corresponding electronic device and computer program. In particular the disclosure relates to a method, at an electronic device with a touch display and at least one user feedback mechanism for deleting a user interface object, wherein user feedback is provided, in response to the, facilitated by one of the at least one of the user feedback mechanisms.

This application is a national phase of International Application No.PCT/EP2016/066235 filed Jul. 8, 2016 and published in the Englishlanguage.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to the field of graphical userinterfaces and particular it relates to a method of deleting a graphicaluser interface object, and to a corresponding electronic device andcomputer program.

BACKGROUND

The use of touch-sensitive surfaces as input devices for computers andother electronic computing devices has increased significantly in recentyears. Exemplary touch-sensitive surfaces comprise touch pads and touchscreen displays. Such surfaces are widely used to manipulate userinterface objects on a display.

Exemplary manipulations comprise creating and deleting user interfaceobjects, adjusting the position and/or size of one or more userinterface objects or activating buttons or opening data objects such asfiles/applications represented by user interface objects, as well asassociating metadata with one or more user interface objects orotherwise manipulating user interfaces. Exemplary user interface objectscomprise digital images, video, text, icons, control elements such asbuttons and other graphics. A user will, in some circumstances, need toperform such manipulations on user interface objects in a filemanagement program, an image management application, a digital content(e.g., videos and music, management application, a drawing application,a presentation application, a word processing application, a websitecreation application, a disk authoring application, or a spreadsheetapplication.

But existing methods for performing these manipulations are cumbersomeand inefficient. For example, existing methods for deleting a userinterface object take longer than necessary, because it involves severalsteps. The reason for this is that a situation where user interfaceobjects are erroneously deleted should be avoided.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide methods, devicesconfigured to execute methods, and computer programs which seek tomitigate, alleviate, or eliminate one or more of the above-identifieddeficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination.

This object is achieved by a method, comprising at an electronic devicewith a touch display and at least one user feedback mechanism performingthe following steps; displaying, on the touch display, a user interfacecomprising at least one user interface object; receiving a touch inputapplied on the touch display, on one user interface object of the atleast one user interface objects; continuing to receive the touch inputapplied on the touch display, for a first time period; providing, inresponse to the continuing to receive, a first user feedback,facilitated by one of the at least one of the user feedback mechanisms;continuing to receive the touch input applied on the touch display, fora second time period; providing, in response to the continuing toreceive, a second user feedback associated with deletion of the object,using one of the at least one of the user feedback mechanisms; andremoving, in response to the continuing to receive, the one userinterface object from the user interface.

The methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user andproduce a more efficient human-machine interface, when deleting userinterface objects in a graphical user interface. The method provides away of deleting user interface objects where the interaction required bythe user is minimized a simplified.

According to some aspects, the first user feedback is provided untilprovision of the second user feedback starts or until the applied touchends. Hence, the user is efficiently warned about a coming deletion.

According to some aspects, the method further comprises increasing theintensity of the first user feedback until the second user feedback isprovided. Increased feedback effectively signals the forthcomingdeletion.

According to some aspects, user feedback is at least one of audiofeedback, tactile feedback and/or visual feedback.

According to some aspects, the method further comprises removingcomprises gradually removing the object from the touch display. Gradualdeletion is a way to signal the coming deletion.

According to some aspects, the method further comprises the userinterface object is associated with a data object stored in a memory andwherein the removing comprises removing the user interface object andits associated data. Hence, the method provides a simplified interfacefor freeing up data in the memory.

According to some aspects, the disclosure relates to an electronicdevice, comprising a touch display at least one user feedback mechanisma touch-sensitive surface; one or more processors; memory; and one ormore programs. The one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or moreprograms including instructions for: displaying, on the touch display, auser interface comprising at least one user interface object; receivinga touch input applied on the touch display, on one user interface objectof the at least one user interface objects; continuing to receive thetouch input applied on the touch display, for a first time period;providing, in response to the continuing to receive, a first userfeedback, facilitated by one of the at least one of the user feedbackmechanisms; continuing to receive the touch input applied on the touchdisplay, for a second time period; providing, in response to thecontinuing to receive, a second user feedback associated with deletionof the object, using one of the at least one of the user feedbackmechanisms; and removing, in response to the continuing to receive, theone user interface object from the user interface.

According to some aspects, the one or more programs includesinstructions for providing the first user feedback until provision ofthe second user feedback starts or until the applied touch ends.

According to some aspects, the one or more programs includesinstructions for increasing the intensity of the first user feedbackincreases until the second user feedback is provided.

According to some aspects, the user feedback is at least one of audiofeedback, tactile feedback and/or visual feedback.

According to some aspects, the one or more programs includesinstructions for gradually removing the object from the touch display.

According to some aspects, the user interface object is associated witha data object stored in a memory, and wherein the one or more programsincludes instructions for removing the user interface object and itsassociated data.

According to some aspects, the disclosure relates to a computer readablestorage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programscomprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic devicewith a touch display at least one user feedback mechanism atouch-sensitive surface; cause the electronic device to execute any ofthe aspects of the method described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein elements having thesame reference number designation may represent like elementsthroughout.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of exemplary components implementedin an exemplary electronic device in which methods described may beimplemented;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the exemplary electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary user interface of theexemplary electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4a to 4e illustrate example user flow in an electronic device 10according to an example embodiment.

FIGS. 4f and 4g illustrate examples of how the intensity of the firstuser feedback varies as a function of time.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating example operations according to someexample embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example electronic deviceaccording to some example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The apparatusand method/s disclosed herein can, however, be realized in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as being limited to theaspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to likeelements throughout.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularaspects of the disclosure only, and it is not intended to limit theinvention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise.

An electronic device such as a tablet or smartphone typically comprisesa menu of applications. Removing applications in such menus is generallyrather complicated and requires precision in the touching. This mightcause the user not to remove applications, which in turn might cause thememory to get full. To overcome this, the methods, devices and GUIsdescribed herein provide visual, audible and/or tactile feedback thatmakes deletion of user interface objects more efficient and intuitivefor a user.

In the examples below, the proposed methods are described in connectionwith a portable communications device, such as a mobile telephone, thatalso contains other functions, such as PDA and/or music playerfunctions. Other portable electronic devices, such as laptops or tabletcomputers with touch-sensitive surfaces (e.g., touch screen displaysand/or touch pads, are, optionally, used. It should also be understoodthat, in some embodiments, the device is not a portable communicationsdevice, but is a desktop computer with a touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,a touch screen display and/or a touch pad.

In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that comprisestouch display and at least one user feedback mechanism is described. Itshould be understood, however, that the electronic device optionallycomprises one or more other physical user-interface devices, such as aphysical keyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick.

The electronic device typically supports a variety of applications, suchas one or more of the following: a drawing application, a presentationapplication, a word processing application, a website creationapplication, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, agaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencingapplication, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, aworkout support application, a photo management application, a digitalcamera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsingapplication, a digital music player application, and/or a digital videoplayer application.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating components of an electronicdevice 10 with touch-sensitive displays, in which methods describedherein may be implemented. Touch-sensitive display 14 is sometimescalled a “touch screen” for convenience, and is sometimes known as orcalled a touch-sensitive display system.

The electronic device 10 comprises memory 13 (which optionally comprisesone or more computer readable storage mediums, memory controller 120,one or more processing units (CPU's, 12, peripherals interface 17, RFcircuitry 11, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, microphone 112,input/output, I/O, subsystem 16, other input or control devices (notshown, and external port 113. The electronic device 10 optionallycomprises one or more optical sensors. The electronic device 10optionally comprises one or more intensity sensors (not shown) fordetecting intensity of contacts on the electronic device 10 (e.g., atouch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitive display system 14 of theelectronic device 10. The electronic device 10 optionally comprises oneor more tactile output generators 18 for generating tactile outputs onthe electronic device 10 (e.g., generating tactile outputs on atouch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitive display system 14 of theelectronic device 10. These components optionally communicate over oneor more communication buses or signal lines 103. The electronic device10 optionally comprises a vibrator 114 configured for causing theelectronic device to vibrate. The vibration might be an alternative tosound, when alerting a user about an event.

It should be appreciated that the electronic device 10 is only oneexample of a portable electronic device, and that the electronic device10 optionally has more or fewer components than shown, optionallycombines two or more components, or optionally has a differentconfiguration or arrangement of the components. The various componentsshown in FIG. 1 are implemented in hardware, software, or a combinationof both hardware and software, including one or more signal processingand/or application specific integrated circuits.

Memory 23 optionally comprises high-speed random access memory andoptionally also comprises non-volatile memory, such as one or moremagnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or othernon-volatile solid-state memory devices. Access to memory 23 by othercomponents of the electronic device 10, such as CPU 12 and theperipherals interface 17, is, optionally, controlled by memorycontroller 120.

Peripherals interface 17 can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to CPU 12 and memory 13. The one or moreprocessors 12 run or execute various software programs and/or sets ofinstructions stored in memory 13 to perform various functions for theelectronic device 10 and to process data. In some embodiments,peripherals interface 17, CPU 12, and memory controller 122 are,optionally, implemented on a single chip, such as chip 104. In someother embodiments, they are, optionally, implemented on separate chips.

RF, radio frequency, circuitry 11 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 11 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 11 optionally comprises well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module, SIM, card, memory, and so forth. RFcircuitry 11 optionally communicates with networks, such as theInternet, also referred to as the World Wide Web, WWW, an intranetand/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, awireless local area network, LAN, and/or a metropolitan area network,MAN, and other devices by wireless communication. The wirelesscommunication optionally uses any of a plurality of communicationsstandards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited toGlobal System for Mobile Communications, GSM, Enhanced Data GSMEnvironment, EDGE, high-speed downlink packet access, HSDPA, high-speeduplink packet access, HSUPA, Evolution, Data-Only, EV-DO, HSPA, HSPA+,Dual-Cell HSPA, DC-HSPDA, long term evolution, LTE, near fieldcommunication, NFC, wideband code division multiple access, W-CDMA, codedivision multiple access, CDMA, time division multiple access, TDMA,Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity, Wi-Fi, e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b,IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n, voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP,Wi-MAX, a protocol for e-mail, e.g., Internet message access protocol,IMAP, and/or post office protocol, POP, instant messaging, e.g.,extensible messaging and presence protocol, XMPP, Session InitiationProtocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions,SIMPLE, Instant Messaging and Presence Service, IMPS, and/or ShortMessage Service, SMS, or any other suitable communication protocol,including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filingdate of this document.

Audio circuitry 110, speaker 111, and microphone 112 provide an audiointerface between a user and the electronic device 10. Audio circuitry110 receives audio data from peripherals interface 17, converts theaudio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signalto speaker 111. Speaker 111 converts the electrical signal tohuman-audible sound waves. Audio circuitry 110 also receives electricalsignals converted by microphone 112 from sound waves. Audio circuitry110 converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audiodata to peripherals interface 17 for processing. Audio data is,optionally, retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory 13 and/or RFcircuitry 11 by peripherals interface 17. In some embodiments, audiocircuitry 110 also comprises a headset jack. The headset jack providesan interface between audio circuitry 110 and removable audioinput/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headsetwith both output, e.g., a headphone for one or both ears, and input,e.g., a microphone.

I/O subsystem 16 couples input/output peripherals on the electronicdevice 10, such as the touch screen 14 and the tactile outputgenerators, but also sensors and other input control devices, toperipherals interface 17. Other input control devices are e.g. physicalbuttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc., dials) sliderswitches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth.

In this disclosure the components for providing an (audio, visible ortactile) interface between a user and the electronic device willcommonly be referred to as a user feedback mechanism 15.

Touch-sensitive display 14 provides an input interface and an outputinterface between the device and a user. A display controller 161function in the I/O subsystem 16 receives and/or sends electricalsignals from/to touch screen 14. Touch screen 14 displays visual outputto the user. The visual output optionally comprises graphics, text,icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed“graphics”). Some or all of the visual output corresponds touser-interface objects e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages orimages) that are displayed on touch screen 14.

Touch screen 14 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensorsthat accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact.Touch screen 14 and display controller 161, along with any associatedmodules and/or sets of instructions in memory 13, detect contact, andany movement or breaking of the contact, on touch screen 14 and convertsthe detected contact into interaction with user-interface objects (e.g.,one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) that are displayed ontouch screen 14. In an exemplary embodiment, a point of contact betweentouch screen 14 and the user corresponds to a finger of the user.

The touch screen 14 optionally uses liquid crystal display, LCD,technology, light emitting polymer display, LPD, technology, or lightemitting diode, LED, technology, although other display technologies areused in other embodiments. Touch screen 14 and display controller 161optionally detect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using anyof a plurality of touch sensing technologies now known or laterdeveloped, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared,and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximitysensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points ofcontact with touch screen 14. In an exemplary embodiment, projectedmutual capacitance sensing technology is used.

The user optionally makes contact with touch screen 14 using anysuitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth.In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarilywith finger-based contacts and gestures, which can be less precise thanstylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger on thetouch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the roughfinger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command forperforming the actions desired by the user.

Electronic device 10 optionally also comprises one or more tactileoutput generators 18. FIG. 1 shows a tactile output generator coupled toI/O subsystem 16. Tactile output generator 18 optionally comprises oneor more electroacoustic devices such as speakers or other audiocomponents and/or electromechanical devices that convert energy intolinear motion such as a motor, solenoid, electroactive polymer,piezoelectric actuator, electrostatic actuator, or other tactile outputgenerating component (e.g., a component that converts electrical signalsinto tactile outputs on the device). A contact intensity sensor 19receives tactile feedback generation instructions from haptic feedbackmodule 133 and generates tactile outputs on electronic device 10 thatare capable of being sensed by a user of device 10. In some embodiments,at least one tactile output generator is collocated with, or proximateto, a touch-sensitive surface (e.g., touch-sensitive display system 14)and, optionally, generates a tactile output by moving thetouch-sensitive surface vertically (e.g., in/out of a surface ofelectronic device 10) or laterally (e.g., back and forth in the sameplane as a surface of electronic device 10). In some embodiments, atleast one tactile output generator sensor is located on the back ofelectronic device 10, opposite touch screen display 14 which is locatedon the front of electronic device 10.

The software components stored in memory 102 comprise for exampleoperating system, communication module (or set of instructions),contact/motion module (or set of instructions), graphics module (or setof instructions), text input module (or set of instructions), GlobalPositioning System (GPS) module (or set of instructions), andapplications (or sets of instructions).

Operating system (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or anembedded operating system such as VxWorks) comprises various softwarecomponents and/or drivers for controlling and managing general systemtasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, powermanagement, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardwareand software components.

Applications optionally comprise the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof: contacts module(sometimes called an address book or contact list); telephone module;video conferencing module; e-mail client module; instant messaging (IM)module; workout support module; camera module for still and/or videoimages; image management module; browser module; calendar module; widgetmodules, which optionally comprise one or more of: weather widget,stocks widget, calculator widget, alarm clock widget, dictionary widget,and other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets,widget creator module for making user-created widgets; search module;video and music player module, which is, optionally, made up of a videoplayer module and a music player module notes module; map module; and/oronline video module.

Examples of other applications that are, optionally, stored in memory102 comprise other word processing applications, other image editingapplications, drawing applications, presentation applications,JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voicerecognition, and voice replication.

The graphics module comprises various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on touch screen 14 or other display,including components for changing the visual impact (e.g., brightness,transparency, saturation, contrast or other visual property) of graphicsthat are displayed. As used herein, the term “graphics” comprises anyobject that can be displayed to a user, including without limitationtext, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objects including softkeys), digital images, videos, animations and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module stores data representing graphicsto be used. Each graphic is, optionally, assigned a corresponding code.Graphics module receives, from applications etc., one or more codesspecifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinatedata and other graphic property data, and then generates screen imagedata to output to display controller 161.

FIG. 2 illustrates the electronic device 10 having a touch screen 14.The touch screen optionally displays one or more graphics within userinterface, UI, 20. In this embodiment, as well as others describedbelow, a user is enabled to select one or more of the graphics by makinga gesture on the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers 201 orone or more styluses 202. In some embodiments, selection of one or moregraphics occurs when the user breaks contact with the one or moregraphics. In some embodiments, the gesture optionally comprises one ormore taps, one or more swipes (from left to right, right to left, upwardand/or downward) and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, leftto right, upward and/or downward) that has made contact with electronicdevice 10. In some implementations or circumstances, inadvertent contactwith a graphic does not select the graphic. For example, a swipe gesturethat sweeps over an application icon optionally does not select thecorresponding application when the gesture corresponding to selection isa tap.

The electronic device 10 optionally comprises one or more physicalbuttons, such as “home” or menu button 203. As described previously,menu button 203 is, optionally, used to navigate to any application in aset of applications that are, optionally executed on the electronicdevice 10. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menu button isimplemented as a soft key in a GUI displayed on touch screen 14.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary user interface for a menu ofapplications on the electronic device 10, where the proposed techniquemay be implemented. In some embodiments, user interface 20 comprises thefollowing user interface objects, or a subset or superset thereof:Signal strength indicator(s) 31 for wireless communication(s), such ascellular and Wi-Fi signals; Time 32; Bluetooth indicator 33 and Batterystatus indicator 34.

The user interface objects typically also comprises user interfaceobjects i.e. icons, corresponding to a number of applications such as; atelephone application 35, which optionally comprises an indicator of thenumber of missed calls or voicemail messages; e-mail application 36,which optionally comprises an indicator of the number of unread e-mails;browser application 37, and video player 38 and music player 39.

Other applications are e.g. messaging application 311, calendarapplication 312, image application 313, camera application 314, onlinevideo application 315, stocks application 316, map application 317,weather application 318, alarm clock application 319, workoutapplication 320, notes application 321 and settings application 322. Itshould be noted that the icon labels illustrated in FIG. 3 are merelyexemplary and that the proposed method might be applied on any userinterface object.

In some embodiments, a label for a respective application icon comprisesa name of an application corresponding to the respective applicationicon. In some embodiments, a label for a particular application icon isdistinct from a name of an application corresponding to the particularapplication icon.

The proposed technique will now be described referring to the userinterface 20 of FIG. 3. However, in order to better understand theproposed methods, problems associated with deleting user interfaceobjects will be briefly discussed.

Deleting user interface objects on a graphical user interface, UI, suchas a touch screen can have a perceived threshold, due to cumbersome userexperience.

Two common delete/uninstall scenarios for UI objects are commonly usedon e.g. smartphones and tablets. A first scenario is that a user appliesa long touch on a user interface object, wherein the long touch causesthe user interface object to wiggle and a small cross is shown in theupper right corner of the user interface object. The user has to let gofrom long press when wiggling commences and manage to hit the minimalcross to delete the user interface object. This might be difficult,because of the size of the cross. If hitting the cross fails, the usermight need to redo the long touch.

However, this scenario is maybe better than a second alternative, wherethe user is supposed to apply a long press icon until icon “comes lose”and drag is enabled. User then has to drag this icon over the entirescreen, up to the “Uninstall/Delete” icon. If user's finger moistness isa bit off, the user will “drop” the icon too early and instead ofgetting into the trash bin, it is just rearranged within its grid.

The idea is to use one longer press be the sole action needed to deleteone item. In order to avoid accidental deletion, user feedback such asvibration, sound, light etc., is used to notify the user that somethingis happening. Typically the intensity of the feedback increases by time.A final user feedback having a special effect e.g. a subtle “BANG”,“POP” will let the user know that the object is really deleted. Possiblythe user may then have an option to regret the deletion.

FIGS. 4a to 4e illustrate an example user flow in an electronic device10 e.g. the electronic device of FIG. 1. One or more programs are storedin the memory and configured to be executed by the one or moreprocessors.

FIG. 4a illustrates a user interface object 21 being displayed on theuser interface 20 of the electronic device 10. The user interface objectis e.g. an icon of an application or a thumbnail of an image. Hence, theone or more programs in the electronic device comprise instructions fordisplaying, on the touch display, a user interface comprising at leastone user interface object.

Deletion of the user interface object 21 is initiated when a user putsfinger on the icon that he or she wants to delete, as shown in FIG. 4b .Then the electronic device 10 detects the presence of the finger on thetouch display 14 using e.g. the hardware described in connection withFIG. 1. The electronic device continues to register the presence duringa first time period and after expiry it starts providing feedback to theuser. The purpose of the user feedback is to notify the user about thata delete action is started. The first time period is typically quiteshort e.g. 10 ms. The first time period should be a short time, which ishowever long enough to differentiate the touch from a normal touch,applied to start the application. In other words, the one or moreprograms in the electronic device includes instructions for receiving atouch input applied on the touch display, on one user interface objectof the at least one user interface objects and continuing to receive thetouch input applied on the touch display, for a first time period.According to some aspects, several objects could be pressed and deletedin parallel.

Hence, after expiry of the first time period, the user will, if thetouch input remains, feel or receive a user feedback such as avibration, as illustrated in FIG. 4c . There might also additionally bea sound and any other user feedback. The user feedback is typicallygenerated using the microphone 111, the tactile output generators 18 orthe touch sensitive display 14 (see FIG. 1), which would then be theuser feedback mechanisms. Hence, the one or more programs includesinstructions for providing, in response to the continuing to receive, afirst user feedback, facilitated by one of the at least one of the userfeedback mechanisms. According to some aspects, the user feedback is atleast one of audio feedback, tactile feedback and/or visual feedback.For example, the electronic device starts to vibrate or the touched iconstarts to wobble. If the user does not intend to delete the userinterface object, he or she has the possibility to release the touch,and then the user feedback will end and the deletion is interrupted.

The user feedback is provided during a second time period while thefinger remains on the item. Hence, the one or more programs furthercomprise instructions for continuing to receive the touch input appliedon the touch display, for a second time period. According to someaspects, the one or more programs includes instructions for providingthe first user feedback until provision of the second user feedbackstarts or until the applied touch ends. During the second time periodthe user feedback e.g. vibration will sometimes increase in intensity,as illustrated in FIG. 4d . The item will perhaps slightly shakevisually or light up or shade out. Hence, according to some aspects, theone or more programs includes instructions for increasing the intensityof the first user feedback increases until the second user feedback isprovided. After a few hundred milliseconds, the vibration intensity willspike in (as illustrated by the curve of FIG. 4g ), to indicate theactual deletion. Hence, the one or more programs further compriseinstructions for providing, in response to the continuing to receive, asecond user feedback associated with deletion of the object, using oneof the at least one of the user feedback mechanisms, as shown in FIG. 4e. The second user feedback e.g. corresponds to that a user willexperience the deletion as popping a bubble. If there is a soundconnected to it, the sound will signal that the item has been deleted.

The one or more programs further comprise instructions for removing, inresponse to the continuing to receive, the one user interface objectfrom the user interface. Hence, the item will be removed from thegraphical user interface. According to some aspects, the one or moreprograms further comprise instructions for gradually removing one userinterface from the touch display. Gradually removing comprises e.g.fading out or blinking out or the like. For example one user interfacestarts to fade out during the second time period and is completelyremoved when the touch has remained for the second time period.

According to some aspects, the user interface object is associated witha data object stored in the memory 13, and then the one or more programsincludes instructions for removing the user interface object and itsassociated data. In other words, when the user interface object 21 isremoved from the user interface 20 its associated data is also removed.This might correspond to that an application is uninstalled or that amedia object such as an image or a movie is removed from the memory 23.

After completion of the method the user interface object, and itsassociated data, is removed from the portable electronic device 10.However, there might be a possibility to undo the deletion.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method deleting a user interfaceobject at a touch display of an electronic device with a touch displayand at least one user feedback mechanism in accordance with someembodiments. The method is performed at an electronic device (e.g.,device 10, FIG. 1) with a display and a touch-sensitive surface.According to some aspects, the display is a touch screen display and thetouch-sensitive surface is on the display. According to some aspects,the display is separate from the touch-sensitive surface. Someoperations in method are, optionally, combined and/or the order of someoperations is, optionally, changed.

As described below, the method provides an intuitive way to delete userinterface objects from a user interface. For example deletingapplications from an application menu or deleting photos in a photoapplication in a smartphone or tablet.

The method comprises displaying 51, on the touch display, a userinterface comprising at least one user interface object. In other words,a graphical user interface is created and presented to the user on thetouch display 14. The user interface object is configured enable a userto distinguish the applications from each other and to enable a user toperform acts relating to the individual user interface objects. Examplesof acts are starting the application or displaying an image associatedwith the user interface object. This is typically done by representingthe user interfaces with individual icons on the user interface.

According to some aspects graphical user interface is a menu ofapplications. According to some aspects the user interface is a view ofdata stored in the memory 23.

The method further comprises receiving S2 a touch input applied on thetouch display, on one user interface object of the at least one userinterface objects. In other words, presence of an object such as afinger or a stylus is detected by the touch display 14 as described inconnection with FIG. 1. The touch of a user interface indicates that theuser wants to perform an action associated with the user interfaceobject. In accordance with the proposed technique a touch applied for acertain time period corresponds to the act of deleting the userinterface object and its associated data. Hence, the following stepsserve the purpose of identifying such as touch and to communicate withthe user in order to assure that this is actually the intent.

Hence, the method further comprises continuing S3 to receive the touchinput applied on the touch display, for a first time period. Stateddifferently, the touch screen continuously detects that the appliedtouch remains. When a first time period has expired since the touch wasapplied, an event occurs. The duration of the first time period can beset as suitable for the specific application.

If the touch is release before the expiry of the first time period thatmight correspond to another act, such as starting the application, ordisplaying a photo in the examples above.

The method further comprises providing S4, in response to the continuingto receive, a first user feedback, facilitated by one of the at leastone of the user feedback mechanisms. Hence, after touch input beingapplied to a user interface object for a first period, at provision ofat least one user input is triggered. Providing a first user feedbackimplies that a user feedback mechanism such as the tactile outputgenerators, loud speaker 111 or vibrator 114 is cause to generate a userfeedback. If the method is executed by the CPU 12, this means that theCPU sends a signal to the user feedback mechanism over the peripheralsinterface 17 or I/O, subsystem 16. The user feedback is an indication tothe user that the object will soon be deleted.

The method further comprises continuing S5 to receive the touch inputapplied on the touch display, for a second time period. In other words,the touch display 12 continues to detect that the touch is still applieduntil a second time period has expired. When the touch has been appliedfor the first and second time periods, it is considered a confirmationthat the user wants to delete the object. Hence, the application of thetouch input for the first and second time periods is the only actionrequired from the user in order to delete the user interface object andits associated data.

According to some aspects, the method comprises increasing S6 theintensity of the first user feedback until the second user feedback isprovided. In other words, to make the indication even more significant,the user feedback's intensity might gradually increase, as illustratedby the curve of FIG. 4f . For example the amplitude of the vibration,audio or lightning increases.

According to some aspects, the first user feedback is provided untilprovision of the second user feedback starts or until the applied touchends. Hence, any time during the second time period, the user has thepossibility to release the touch. In such case the method will and, andno further action is performed. Hence, in the applied touch isinterrupted before the end of the second time period, the deletion isinterrupted.

The method further comprises providing S7, in response to the continuingto receive, a second user feedback associated with deletion of theobject, using one of the at least one of the user feedback mechanisms.The second user feedback informs the user about the deletion of theobject. At about the same time, the user interface object disappearsfrom the screen.

In other words, the method further comprises removing S8, in response tothe continuing to receive, the one user interface object from the userinterface. The purpose of the removal is that acts relating to thedeleted user interface object cannot be performed anymore. In way thatthe user cannot start the application or view the image.

According to some aspects, the removing S8 comprises gradually removingthe object from the touch display. Hence, the user interface objectmight start to fade out already before the expiry of the second timeperiod.

According to some aspects, the user interface object is associated witha data object stored in a memory and wherein the removing S8 comprisesremoving the user interface object and its associated data. The reasonwhy the user wants to remove an object might be to free memory space.Hence, the deletion might involve also deleting data associated with theuser interface object. This corresponds e.g. to uninstalling anapplication or removing an image from the memory.

After removing there might be different ways of restoring the deletedobject. According to some aspects, an icon (“undo delete”) appears onthe screen for a short period after the deletion. The user may then undoan accidental deletion by pressing this icon.

According to some aspects, the first and/or second user feedback is atleast one of audio feedback, tactile feedback and/or visual feedback.The first and second user feedbacks might be different types offeedback. For example the first user feedback is vibration and thesecond feedback is audio.

According to some aspects, the functionality may be activated ordeactivated e.g. in the settings application 332.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 6 shows a functional blockdiagram of an electronic device 10 configured in accordance with theprinciples of the various described aspects. The functional blocks ofthe device are, optionally, The functional blocks of the device are,optionally, implemented by hardware, software, or a combination ofhardware and software to carry out the principles of the variousdescribed embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill in the artthat the functional blocks described in FIG. 6 are, optionally, combinedor separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of the variousdescribed embodiments. Therefore, the description herein optionallysupports any possible combination or separation or further definition ofthe functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 6, an electronic device 10 includes a touch display 14at least one user feedback mechanism 15, one or more processors 12 andmemory 13. The electronic device further comprises one or more programsstored in the memory 13 and configured to be executed by the one or moreprocessors 12. The one or more programs includes instructions fordisplaying, on the touch display, a user interface comprising at leastone user interface object; receiving a touch input applied on the touchdisplay, on one user interface object of the at least one user interfaceobjects; continuing to receive the touch input applied on the touchdisplay, for a first time period; providing, in response to thecontinuing to receive, a first user feedback, facilitated by one of theat least one of the user feedback mechanisms; continuing to receive thetouch input applied on the touch display, for a second time period;providing, in response to the continuing to receive, a second userfeedback associated with deletion of the object, using one of the atleast one of the user feedback mechanisms; and removing, in response tothe continuing to receive, the one user interface object from the userinterface.

According to some aspects, the one or more programs includesinstructions for providing the first user feedback until provision ofthe second user feedback starts or until the applied touch ends.

According to some aspects, the one or more programs includesinstructions for increasing the intensity of the first user feedbackincreases until the second user feedback is provided.

According to some aspects, the user feedback is at least one of audiofeedback, tactile feedback and/or visual feedback.

According to some aspects, the one or more programs include instructionsfor gradually removing the object from the touch display.

According to some aspects, the user interface object is associated witha data object stored in a memory, and wherein the one or more programsinclude instructions for removing the user interface object and itsassociated data.

The operations in the information processing methods described aboveare, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules ininformation processing apparatus such as general purpose processors(e.g., as described above with respect to FIG. 1) or applicationspecific chips.

The operations described above with reference to FIG. 5 are, optionally,implemented by components depicted in FIGS. 1 or FIG. 6.

A GUI display module 121 displays, on the touch display, a userinterface comprising at least one user interface object. Touch receptionmodule 122 receives a touch input applied on the touch display, on oneuser interface object of the at least one user interface objects. Firsttimer module 123 continues to receive the touch input applied on thetouch display, for a first time period. First user feedback provider 124provides, in response to the continuing to receive, a first userfeedback, facilitated by one of the at least one of the user feedbackmechanisms. Second timer module 125 continues to receive the touch inputapplied on the touch display, for a second time period. Second userfeedback provider 126 provides, in response to the continuing toreceive, a second user feedback associated with deletion of the object,using one of the at least one of the user feedback mechanisms. Deletionmodule 127 removes, in response to the continuing to receive, the oneuser interface object from the user interface.

Similarly, it would be clear to a person having ordinary skill in theart how other processes can be implemented based on the componentsdepicted in FIG. 1.

Aspects of the disclosure are described with reference to the drawings,e.g., block diagrams and/or flowcharts. It is understood that severalentities in the drawings, e.g., blocks of the block diagrams, and alsocombinations of entities in the drawings, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions, which instructions can be stored in acomputer-readable memory, and also loaded onto a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus. Such computer programinstructions can be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, a special purpose computer and/or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer and/or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, create means for implementingthe functions/acts specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchartblock or blocks.

In some implementations and according to some aspects of the disclosure,the functions or steps noted in the blocks can occur out of the ordernoted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown insuccession can in fact be executed substantially concurrently or theblocks can sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality/acts involved. Also, the functions or steps noted inthe blocks can according to some aspects of the disclosure be executedcontinuously in a loop.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplaryaspects of the disclosure. However, many variations and modificationscan be made to these aspects without substantially departing from theprinciples of the present disclosure. Thus, the disclosure should beregarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and not as beinglimited to the particular aspects discussed above. Accordingly, althoughspecific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptivesense only and not for purposes of limitation.

The description of the example embodiments provided herein have beenpresented for purposes of illustration. The description is not intendedto be exhaustive or to limit example embodiments to the precise formdisclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teachings or may be acquired from practice of various alternativesto the provided embodiments. The examples discussed herein were chosenand described in order to explain the principles and the nature ofvarious example embodiments and its practical application to enable oneskilled in the art to utilize the example embodiments in various mannersand with various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated. The features of the embodiments described herein may becombined in all possible combinations of methods, apparatus, modules,systems, and computer program products. It should be appreciated thatthe example embodiments presented herein may be practiced in anycombination with each other.

It should be noted that the word “comprising” does not necessarilyexclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed andthe words “a” or “an” preceding an element do not exclude the presenceof a plurality of such elements. It should further be noted that anyreference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that the exampleembodiments may be implemented at least in part by means of bothhardware and software, and that several “means”, “units” or “devices”may be represented by the same item of hardware.

The various example embodiments described herein are described in thegeneral context of method steps or processes, which may be implementedin one aspect by a computer program product, embodied in acomputer-readable medium, including computer-executable instructions,such as program code, executed by computers in networked environments. Acomputer-readable medium may include removable and non-removable storagedevices including, but not limited to, Read Only Memory (ROM), RandomAccess Memory (RAM), compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVD),etc. Generally, program modules may include routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, etc. that performs particular tasks orimplement particular abstract data types. Computer-executableinstructions, associated data structures, and program modules representexamples of program code for executing steps of the methods disclosedherein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions orassociated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts forimplementing the functions described in such steps or processes.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: at an electronicdevice with a touch display and at least one user feedback mechanism:displaying, on the touch display, a user interface including a pluralityof user interface objects; receiving a touch input applied on the touchdisplay on two user interface objects of the plurality of user interfaceobjects; continuing to receive the touch input applied on the touchdisplay for a first time period; providing, in response to thecontinuing to receive, a first user feedback facilitated by one of theat least one user feedback mechanisms; continuing to receive the touchinput applied on the touch display for a second time period; increasingan intensity of the first user feedback until a second user feedbackassociated with deletion of the two user interface objects is provided;providing, in response to the continuing to receive the touch input forthe second time period, the second user feedback using one of the atleast one user feedback mechanisms; and removing, in response to thecontinuing to receive, the two user interface objects from the userinterface.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user feedback isprovided until provision of the second user feedback starts.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the user feedback is at least one of audiofeedback, tactile feedback and/or visual feedback.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the removing comprises gradually removing the two userinterface objects from the touch display.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the two user interface objects are associated with respectivedata objects stored in a memory and wherein the removing includesremoving the user interface objects and their associated data.
 6. Anelectronic device, comprising: a touch display; at least one userfeedback mechanism; one or more processors; and a computer memorycircuit storing instructions that when executed by one or moreprocessors cause the electronic device to perform operations including:displaying, on the touch display, a user interface including a pluralityof user interface objects; receiving a touch input applied on the touchdisplay on two user interface objects of the plurality of user interfaceobjects; continuing to receive the touch input applied on the touchdisplay for a first time period; providing, in response to thecontinuing to receive, a first user feedback facilitated by one of theat least one user feedback mechanisms; continuing to receive the touchinput applied on the touch display for a second time period; increasingan intensity of the first user feedback until a second user feedbackassociated with deletion of the two user interface objects is provided;providing, in response to the continuing to receive the touch input forthe second time period, the second user feedback using one of the atleast one user feedback mechanisms; and removing, in response to thecontinuing to receive, the two user interface objects from the userinterface.
 7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the operationsfurther include providing the first user feedback until provision of thesecond user feedback starts.
 8. The electronic device of claim 6,wherein the user feedback is at least one of audio feedback, tactilefeedback and/or visual feedback.
 9. The electronic device of claim 6,wherein the removing includes gradually removing the two user interfaceobjects from the touch display.
 10. The electronic device of claim 6,wherein the two user interface objects are associated with respectivedata objects stored in the computer memory circuit and wherein theremoving includes removing the two user interface objects and theirassociated data.
 11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storinginstructions that when executed by an electronic device with a touchdisplay and at least one user feedback mechanism cause the electronicdevice to perform operations including: displaying, on the touchdisplay, a user interface including a plurality of user interfaceobjects; receiving a touch input applied on the touch display on twouser interface objects of the plurality of user interface objects;continuing to receive the touch input applied on the touch display for afirst time period; providing, in response to the continuing to receive,a first user feedback facilitated by one of the at least one userfeedback mechanisms; continuing to receive the touch input applied onthe touch display, for a second time period; increasing an intensity ofthe first user feedback until a second user feedback associated withdeletion of the two user interface objects is provided; providing, inresponse to the continuing to receive the touch input for the secondtime period, the second user feedback using one of the at least one userfeedback mechanisms; and removing, in response to the continuing toreceive, the two user interface objects from the user interface.
 12. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the user feedbackis at least one of audio feedback, tactile feedback and/or visualfeedback.
 13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, whereinthe removing includes gradually removing the two user interface objectsfrom the touch display.
 14. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 11, wherein the two user interface objects are associated withrespective data objects stored in a memory, and wherein the removingincludes removing the two user interface objects and their associateddata.